True Songs: On tour with the dramatic reading of “Night on the Milky Way Train”
ほんとうのうた ～朗読劇「銀河鉄道の夜」を追って～
Kawai Hiroki
Japan/102min./2014
On the 24th of December, 2011, reading drama performance "Night on the Milky Way Train" was given birth.
Miyazawa Kenji's story "Night on the Milky Way Train" was adapted into a drama by Furukawa Hideo from the post-3.11 perspective. As the vocal performance by poet Suga Keijiro, musician Kojima Keitaney Love and translator Shibata Motoyuki traveled around Tohoku and nationwide, the drama was transformed into a unique theater in each region. Requiem for the deceased, hope for the future. Dynamism of the four performers induced by the invisible power. This is a "road documentary" accompanying with their never-ending journey. The film was consisted of footages shot from director's peculiar viewpoint and interviews with casts, while actress Aoyagi Izumi, who was present at the theater as a spectator, provides the film with a new perspective. Following her rail journey in Tohoku and her reciting Kenji's novel, the film contemplates a message the "Milky Way Train" received from the land of Tohoku.
Miyazawa Kenji's story "Night on the Milky Way Train" was adapted into a drama by Furukawa Hideo from the post-3.11 perspective. As the vocal performance by poet Suga Keijiro, musician Kojima Keitaney Love and translator Shibata Motoyuki traveled around Tohoku and nationwide, the drama was transformed into a unique theater in each region. Requiem for the deceased, hope for the future. Dynamism of the four performers induced by the invisible power. This is a "road documentary" accompanying with their never-ending journey. The film was consisted of footages shot from director's peculiar viewpoint and interviews with casts, while actress Aoyagi Izumi, who was present at the theater as a spectator, provides the film with a new perspective. Following her rail journey in Tohoku and her reciting Kenji's novel, the film contemplates a message the "Milky Way Train" received from the land of Tohoku.
| Title in English | True Songs: On tour with the dramatic reading of “Night on the Milky Way Train” |
|---|---|
| Title in Original Language | ほんとうのうた ～朗読劇「銀河鉄道の夜」を追って～ |
| Director(s) | Kawai Hiroki |
| Director's Bio/Filmography | Kawai Hiroki started making films in his school days. Since the Great East Japan Earthquake occured in 2011, he has engaged in documenting musicians and theatrical performers. He created a collection of such footages as 'a work of art', while he sometimes released them as a 'documentary film'. He works under the pseudonym of 'Pool Side Nagaya' when collaborating with his production team. In 2014, he filmed a touring performance of the dramatic reading “Night on the Milky Way Train” performed by Furukawa Hideo, Suga Keijiro, Kotani Keitaney Love and Shibata Motoyuki in the disaster affected areas in Tohoku for two years. It was released as his first documentary feature titled "True Songs: On tour with the dramatic reading of "Night on the Milky Way Train"". In 2016, he directed "Soldier A", documentary filming a live performance of singer Nanao Tabito, who acted as an imaginary Self-Defense Force official who was killed in the battle field. The film has been screened nationwide and available on DVD/BD. Director's Official Website → http://poolsidenagaya.com/ |
| Year of Completion | 2014 |
| Nationality of the Film | Japan |
| Running Time | 102 min. |
| Aspect Ratio | Video: 16：9 |
| Color | Color |
| Screening Format | DVD |
| Shooting Locations | |
| Shooting Dates/Periods | |
| Names of Characters | Furukawa Hideo, Suga Keijiro, Kojima Keitaney Love , Shibata Motoyuki, Aoyagi Izumi |
| Language of Commentary and Dialogue | Japanese, |
| Subtitles | English, |
| Date of First Public Screening | 2014/3/9 |
| Place of First Public Screening (Country) | Japan |
| Date of First Public Screening in Japan | |
| Previous Screenings at Other Film Festivals and Events | Euro Space (Shibuya, Tokyo) |
| Staff Credits |
Photography: Kawai Hiroki, Shinmi Tomoya, Morishige Taiyo Editing: Kawai Hiroki, Segawa Kojin Sound: Omi Hiroyuki Music: Kojima Keitaney Love |
| Producer | Kawai Hiroki |
| Distributor / Distribution Company | Kawai Hiroki |
| Official Website for the Film | http://milkyway-railway.com/movie/ |
| Other Online Access to the film | |
| Screenings at the Past YIDFF Programs and Events | None |
